You can’t see who is viewing your Facebook profile. Facebook says plainly that it doesn’t let people track who views their profile or posts, and that third-party apps can’t do it either. Any app or browser extension that claims to show your profile visitors is fake, and Facebook asks you to report it.
This guide explains why “profile viewer” apps and tricks don’t work, which hints people mistake for evidence, what Facebook does let you see (story viewers, reactions, Page stats), what to do if you’ve already tried a viewer app, and how to control who can see your profile in the first place.
Why “profile viewer” tricks don’t work
- Apps and extensions: they can’t get this data from Facebook, because Facebook doesn’t record profile visits for users to see. Many exist to steal your login, post spam from your account, or show you ads. Don’t give them your password.
- Page source codes: old tips about searching your profile’s page source for friend IDs don’t reveal profile visits. Those IDs relate to friends and suggestions, not views.
- Old news stories: a few articles from years ago claimed a “Who viewed my profile” option was coming. Facebook’s help center still says the feature doesn’t exist.
It works the other way too. Facebook’s help center confirms people can’t tell that you’ve seen their profile.
Hints that aren’t proof
- Friend list order: some sites claim the friends shown first on your profile are the people who view it most. Facebook has never said that, so treat it as speculation rather than evidence.
- “People You May Know”: these suggestions come from mutual friends, contacts and other signals. Facebook explains the sources in its People You May Know help page. A suggestion doesn’t mean that person visited your profile.
- Frequent likes: someone who reacts to everything clearly sees your posts, but that’s visible because they reacted, not because Facebook tracked a visit.
What you can see
Who viewed your story
- Post a story.
- While it’s live, open your story from the top of Feed.
- Tap the viewer count or swipe up to see the list.
Result: you see the people who viewed that story (button placement varies a little between the app and the website). The list is only available while the story is up (and in your story archive, depending on your settings).
Reactions, comments and shares
Anyone who reacts to, comments on or shares your posts is listed on that post. Tap the reaction count to see names.
Page and professional mode insights
If you run a Page or use professional mode, Facebook shows reach and audience stats, but not a list of who viewed your profile.
If you already tried a profile viewer app
Assume the app wanted your login or account access, and lock things down:
- On Facebook, go to Settings & privacy › Settings and open Apps and websites (it may be under a Permissions heading). Remove the viewer app.
- Remove any matching browser extension from your browser’s extensions page.
- Change your Facebook password to one you don’t use anywhere else.
- Turn on two-factor authentication in Accounts Center › Password and security.
- In the same area, check where you’re logged in and log out of devices you don’t recognize.
Result: the app loses access to your account, and anyone who captured your old password can’t use it.
If you cannot sign in or someone has changed your account information, follow our hacked Facebook account recovery guide before continuing with the settings above.
Control who can see your profile
If you’re worried about who’s looking, limit what they can see instead. Some public information can also be visible to people without an account; see what Facebook lets logged-out visitors see and the limits that apply.
- Check what strangers see: Facebook explains how to see the public view of your profile.
- Change who can see your posts, friends list and personal details. See Control who can see what’s on your Facebook profile.
- Set your future posts to Friends and limit older public posts in your privacy settings.
- Block anyone you don’t want viewing your profile at all.
Result: people who aren’t your friends see only the details you leave public.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone see that I searched for them?
No. Facebook says people can’t tell when you’ve viewed their profile, and searching works the same way.
Does viewing a story tell the person?
Yes. Unlike profiles, stories show the owner a list of viewers.
Do Facebook Page owners see who visits?
No. They see totals such as reach and visits, not individual names.
What should I do if an app says it can show my viewers?
Don’t sign in to it. Report it to Facebook and, if you’ve already used it, follow the security steps above.
Related: How to Change Your Facebook Profile Name on Desktop and Mobile.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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